Workers book time off for GTA 6 launch day as Logitech gives all staff a day to play

Almost one in five American workers plan to take the day off when Grand Theft Auto VI comes out on Thursday, 19 November. In a survey of 1,530 full-time employees by BambooHR, a US human resources platform, 18% said they intended to take that day off. Younger workers were the keenest: 32% of Gen Z and 27% of millennials.

More requests than usual

Separately, BambooHR looked at anonymised leave requests from more than 3.4 million US employees. Requests for 19 November are 13% higher than on comparable days in 2024 and 2025. The company noted that requests do not give a reason, so some of the extra days may be for a doctor's appointment or a long weekend.

In a PCMag survey, 8% of adult US gamers said they would like to skip work on launch day. In the UK, the game is given as the reason in about 4.6% of leave requests for 19 November, according to data from BrightHR, an HR software company.

Employers give the day off themselves

Logitech, the computer accessories maker, has given all its employees an extra paid day off, called Logi Game Day. It is meant only for gaming and can be taken on 19 November or later. “It's time to retire the stereotype that gaming is a waste of time,” Hanneke Faber, the chief executive, told Fortune. The company says the day will help productivity.

In Russia, Benza, a company in Penza that makes equipment for petrol stations, has promised staff the day off, the news site Meduza reported. To get it, employees have to show their managers that they own a games console and a copy of the game.